Reading blitzed Elmira for three goals in the opening period Friday night and handed the Jackals a 5-3 loss at First Arena.

Yannick Tifu, Brandon Alderson, Scott Tanski, Nakita Kashirsky and Pavel Padakin each scored a goal for the Royals. Tanski closed the first period with a short-handed score with 1 minute, 47 seconds remaining.

Tifu, a former Jackal, added two assists.

Chris Langkow had two goals and an assist for the Jackals. Mark Bennett scored Elmira's other goal. Allan McPherson contributed three assists and Cason Hohmann had two assists.

C.J. Motte started at goalie for Elmira and was pulled after giving up his fourth goal on 20 shots 2:47 into the second period. Alain Valiquette, who was signed by the Jackals earlier in the day, took over in his Jackals debut and stopped 22 of 23 shots.

Martin Ouellette stopped 27 of 30 shots for the Royals (26-20-5-3), who moved four points ahead of Elmira in the ECHL Eastern Division standings. The Royals have 58 points and the Jackals (26-25-3-1) remained at 56. Elmira, with 17 games to play, is in eighth place in the conference and entered the night with three teams within three points of them.

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Elmira will play its next five games away from home, starting with Saturday's 7:35 p.m. game at the Wheeling Nailers, who are one of the teams battling with Elmira for a playoff berth. The Jackals also play at Wheeling at 4:05 p.m. Sunday.

Elmira returns home March 11 to play the Adirondack Thunder at 7:05 p.m. at First Arena.